Vertical-file-folder machine



March 2 1926. 1,574,789

R. H. BURGESS VERTICAL FILE FOLDER MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet l 223M565? [Wain/02f 1. arra March 2 1926.

R. H. BURGESS VERTICAL FILE FOLDER MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,574,789 R. H. BURGESS VERTICAL FILE FOLDER MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 2 1926.

March 2 1926. 1,574,789

R. H. BURGESS VERTICAL FILE FOLDER MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES BOY BURGESS, 01

GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLILI It. BURGESS, F GLEN SLLYN, ILLINOIS.

i VEBTICAL-FILE-FOLDER MACHINE.

Application filed December 2, 1924. Serial No..753,425.

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Roy H. BURGESS, a citizen of-the United States, and aresident of the city of Glen Ellyn, county of Du Page, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Vertical-File-Folder Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for producing vertical file folders, more particularly to a machine for manufacturing vertical file folders from an endless web of paper, and has for its main object the provision of a machine of this character which will be highly economical and eflicient in use, effecting agreat saving in labor and increasing production.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a machine of this character, in which provision is made for producingvertical filed folders with either straight out tops or die. cut tops, and in which are combined the several separate operations comprising die cutting the tops in the web, scoring and folding the web, and finally cutting the folded web into folders.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arran ements of parts hereinafter described and c aimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. l represents a side elevational view of my machine;

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a folder produced by my machine, the same having a die cut top;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line H of Fig. 5 and illustrating in particular the ty e of bearing employed for roviding yie dable and adjustable mountings for the rollers;

Fig. 5 re resents a of the mac ine;

Fig. 6 shows a cross section through the creasing, mechanism and folder cutting mechanism, this view being taken approx1- mately on line 6-6 of Fig. 1; 7

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; I

Fig. 8 is a partlal sectional view taken on line 8-8 0 Fig. 1 and illustrating in front elevational view end plates having particular the mechanism for producing the die cut tops;-

Fig. 9 shows a sectional view taken on line 9-, 9 of Fig. 5, this view illustrating the means employed for adjustably supporting the folder;

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a folder having a straight out top.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings includes the supporting frames 12 and 13 which may consist of any suitable type or form of construction, the supporting frame 12 having su ported thereon for unwinding action a r0 1 14, containing the continuous web of paper 15 from which the file folders are to beproduced, Upon this frame 12 are rotatably supported the rolls 16, 17, 1 8 and 19 over which the web of paper is trained as best shown in Fig. 1, these rolls being revolved in an obvious manner by the pressure ofthe paper as it is moved or drawn alon and serv ng as suitable instrumentalities or supporting and guiding the web of paper and also for cooperating with a pair of rollers 20 and 21 in maintaining the web properly tensioned, the said rollers 20 and 21 serving as means for pulling the paper along and unwinding the same from the roll 14. 1

The shafts 22 and 23 for the respective rollers 20 and 21 are mounted for rotation in the supporting frame 13 at the togx thereof as best shown in Fig. 1. The aft 22 for the roller 20 is yieldably and adjustably mounted in the frame. To this end, the ends of the shaft 22 are rotatably mounted in open slot-like bearings 24 (Fig.4) and are operatively held by segmental bearings 25 which are acted on by 26 controlled by the adjusting screws 27 tapped through the end plates 28 which are secured to the frame by screws 29, the said thereon the spring guide members 30 WlllCll, (project into the open bearings 24. The a justing screws 27 are provided with wing nuts 31 or other suitable means whereby to be adjusted for resiliently and operatively positioning the roller 20 with respect to the roller 21. In addition to pulling the web of paper along, the rollers 20 and 21, are formed to serve as scoring rollers and the same will be herethe coiled springs inafter referred to as scoring rollers. In order to carry out this function, the roller 20 is rovided with annular ribs 32 which are adiipted to annular recesses 33 provided in the other roller 21.. The ribs 32 and recesses 33 are spaced apart a short distance in order to produce spaced scoringlines 34 on the web of paper. As will be readily understood by those familiar withthe art of producing vertical file folders one of these scoring lines serves as the line on which the folder is creased when folded, while the other scoring line serves as means of readilypermitting the folder to expand laterally under the accumulation of papers filed therein when in use. The female roller 21 is driven through the meshing bevel gears 35, shaft 36 supported from the frame (Fig. 5), meshing bevel gears 37, shaft 38, meshing bevel gears 39 and shaft 40, which last mentioned shaft receives its power in a man ner hereinafter to be described.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the web 15 justprior to being drawn between the scoring rollers is trained under a female die roller 41, an idle roller 42 operatively mounted adjacent the said female die roller 41serving as means for training the web with relatively tight'frictional engagement upon the said female die roller 41, which as illustrated in Fig. 8, is provided with female die cutters 43 and 44. The axis 45 of the die cutting roller 41 is mounted in the frame for axial adjustment, the construct-ion for this purpose being shown as consist-ingot a spring member 46 imprisoned between the closed end 47 of the bearing and adjacent end of the axis and an adjusting screw 47 tapped through the closed bearing end 48 to engage with the opposite end of the axis 45. Adapted to cooperate with the die cutter 43 is a male die cutter 49 on the wheel 50 adjustably mounted upon a shaft 51 which is yieldably and adjustably supported in the frame by bearing mountings like those employed for the scoring roller 20. The male die cutter 49 cooperates with the female die cutter 43 to cut on the moving web the die cut tops or tabs 52 which appear on the com-' pleted file folders 53 (Fig. 3). The female die cutter 44 is of a different size from the die cutter 43in order to produce a'die cut top or tab 52 of a different length. In orderto accomplish this purpose, the wheel carrying the male die cutter 49 may be removed from the shaft 51 and another male die cutter appliedthereto that is suitable for cooperation with the female die cutter 44. By having the male die cutter as a detachable element, therefore, and by providing different sizes of female die cutters, provision is made for producing die out tops or tabs 52 of different sizes.

The shaft 51 carries a bevel gear 54 in mesh with a bevel gear 55 on a shaft 56 led and bolted frame, the web in its course which is coupled by means of an adjustable union 57 with a shaft 58, carrying a bevel. gear 59 which is driven by a bevel gear 60 fixed on the main drive shaft 61. The ad juslable union 57 includes cooperatively slot disk members 62 designed to be readily separated in order to provide for the attachment and removal of the male die cutter on the shaft 51.

From the scoring rollers the web is drawn downwardly over a folder 63 by means of a pair of creasing rollers 64 and 65 of which the roller 65 is mounted upon the shaft 40 hereinhcfore mentioned. The crcasingrollcr 64 is mounted for adjustment either towards or away from the creasing roller 65 by means of bearing mountings like those employed for the scoring roller 20 hereinbefore described. The shaft 40 carnes a gear 66 which is driven through the intermediate gears 67 and 68 (Fig. 5) from the gear wheel 69 fixed on the driving shaft 61.

The folder 63 comprises a body having a downwardly inclined ridge 70 from which the oppositesides 71 slope in such manner that the web while being drawn by and towards the creasing rollers will be folded over upon itself along one of the scoring lines preparatory to being creased in folded position by the creasing rollers. It is de sirablc that the folder 63 shall be mounted for adj ustment in different directions in order that the ridge 7 0 thereof will be brought in proper relation to that scoring line on which the web is to be folded. To this end the folder is provided with fixed pins 72 having threaded portions 72 which extend through suitable openings provided in the plates 73 and 74 designed to engage upon opposite sides of the frame parts 75 having suitable enlarged openings 76 therein through which the pins 72 are passed, said pins and associated parts being secured tightly together by means of the securing nuts 77, as best illustrated in Fig. 9. As shown in Fig. 5 the folder 63 is preferably supported by means of three such adjustable constructions of which two are located near the top end. thereof and one is located near the lower end or point of the same.

The web, having thus been drawn over the folder by means of which it is folded upon itself along a scoring line and having been creased by the creasing rollers, engages a feed board 78 with which is connected a stationary cutting knife 79 adjustably mounted upon an arm 80 of. the supporting passing under a guide rod 81 and thence over the edge of the cutting knife 7 9 where it is severed into folders by means of a cooperating cutting knife 82 adjustab'ly supported on a flange 83 carried by a roller 84 which is mounted upon the drive shaft 61. Each time the drive shaft 61 revolves, a completed folder is sevcred from the folded and creased web. lhe drive shaft 61 carries a driving pulley 85 'to which may be applied a belt (not shown) operated from any suitable source of power.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the operation of my vertical file folder machine will be readily understood. T he continuous web of paper 15 is drawn or pulled by the scoring rollers 20 and 21., which impress upon the web the scoring lines 34, the web l'ieing drawn between the coojwratlug die cutters for the cutting thereon of the die cut tops or tabs 52. If the file folders are to have straight out tops like the folder 86 illustrated in Fig. 11, themale die cutter 49 is removed from the shaft 51. From the scoring rollers the web is drawn by the action of the creasing rollers over the folder 653' which is so adjusted that the scoring line or. which the web is to be folded will coincide with the folder ridge 70. From the creasing rollers the folded and creased web then passes to the feed board and stationary cutting knife where it is severed into separate folders by therotary cutting knife.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for producing vertical file folders comprising pulling rollers provided with scoring mechanism and means for feeding an endless web of paper thereto, mechanism for folding the web comprising a fold er and cooperating creasing rollers, a drive shaft carrying mechanism for cutting the web into folders, and means operated by the driving shaft for operating the pulling rollers, and cooperating creasing rollers simultaneously, substantially as described.-

2. A machine for producing vertical file folders comprising means for supporting an endless web of paper, rollers for scoring the web and pulling it along, a folder for foldmg the web, rollers for creasing and pulling along the web, means for adjusting said folder relatively to said scoring rollers and creasing rollers, a rotary knife for cutting the web into folders, and means for operating a scoring roller, a creasing roller and said rotary knife simultaneously, substantially as described.

3. A machine for producing vertical file folders comprising means for supporting an scoring endless web of paper, rollers for scoring the web and pulling it along, rotary die members for producing die cut tops in the web, a folder for folding the web, rollers for creasing and pulling. along the web, a driving shaft carrying a rotary knife for cutting the folded web into folders, means operated by said shaft for driving a scoring roller, means operated by said shaft for driving the rotary diemember, and means operated by said shaft for driving a creasing roller, all simultaneously, substantially as described.

4. A machine for producing vertical file folders comprising means whereby to support and move along an endless web of paper, a pair of rollers for scoring the web, a pair of rotary die cutters for producing die cut tops in the web, a folder, means for adjusting the folder for folding the web along a scoring line, a pair of rollers for creasing the web on the folding line and a driving shaft carrying a knife for severing the folded web, substantially as described.

5. A machine for producing vertical file folders comprising means to r n ov e ak) ng an endless web of paper, a pair of rollers for the web, a folder, means for adjustingthe folder for folding the web along a scoring line, a pair of rollers for creasing the web on a folding line, a rotary knife for cutting folders from the folded web, and a drive shaft carrying said knife, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for producing vertical file folders, the combination with means for moving along an endless web of paper, of mechanism for producing die cut tops on said web comprising a .die cutting roll contacting with said web and actuated thereby, a shaft, a knife mounted on the shaft and cooperating with said roll, said shaft being relatively adjustable with respect to said roll, and means for drivin said shaft in synchronism to the travel of said web, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for roducing vertical file folders, the combination with means for moving along an endless web of paper, of mechanism for producing die cut tops in said web as it moves along comprising a die cutting roll contacting with said web and actuated thereby, a shaft, a knife mounted on the shaft and cooperating with said roll, bearings supporting said roll for relative endwise movement and adjustment, bearings supporting said shaft for relative sidewise movement and adjustment, and means for driving said shaft, substantially as described.

8. In a, machine for producing vertical file folders, the combination with means for moving along an endless web of paper, of mechanism for producing die cut tops on said web ,as it moves along comprising a roller provided with female die cutters of ting different sizes, a shaft supported in relation to said roller, a male die cutter removably mounted on said shaft, bearing supporting said roller for relative endwise movement and adjustment, bearings supporting said shaft for relative'sidewise movement and adjustment, and means for driving said shaft, substantially as described.

9. In a machine for producing vertical file folders, the combination with means for moving along an endless web of paper, of mechanism for folding said web, mechanism for cutting the folded web into folders comprising a stationary cutting knife, a drive shaft and a cutting knife supported on said drive shaft longitudinally thereof for cooperating with said stationary cutting knife, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for producing vertical file folders, the combination with means for moving along an endless web of paper, of mechanism for folding said web, mechanism for cutting the folded web transversely into folders comprising a feed board combined with a stationary cutting knife, a shaft, a cutknife adjustably carried by said shaft and extending longitudinally thereof to cooperate with the stationary knife, and means for driving said shaft, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for producing vertical file folders, the combination with means for supporting an endless web vof paper for movement, of a pair of rollers for pulling said web along and for making scoring lines on said web, a pair of creasing rollers for pulling said web along and creasing it, a

folder comprising pins folder interposed between said pairs of rollers and over which said web is drawn to foldmg shape, means for adjusting said projecting therefrom, and. supports in whlch said pins are lndependently adjustable both longitudinally and laterally, substantially as described.

12. In combination, an endless web roll mounted for unwinding action; a pair of rollers for pulling said web along and unwinding it from said roll; means associated with said rollers for making scoring lines on said web; die cutting means for cutting tabs on the side edge of the moving-web before the scoring operation takes place; a folder adjustable to said scoring line; a pair of creaing rolls for drawing said web over the folder and creasing it as folded; and means for cutting the folded and creased web transversely to provide folders of suitable length, substantially as described.

13. In combination, an endless web roll mounted for unwinding action; rollers for pulling the web along; a roller disposed for axial adjustment engaging the movable web and rotated thereby; a die cutter on said roller; a shaft yieldably and adjustably arranged in relation to said roller; a member adjustable on said shaft for cooperatin with said die cutters in cutting tabs on said web as it travels; and means for rotatin said shaft in relation to the rotation of said pulling rollers, substantially as decribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ROY H. BURGESS. 

